Method and apparatus for bending glass sheets or plates



Filed March. 27 1951 M y 1956 J. E. JENDRISAK 2,744,359

METHOD AND APPARATUS -FOR BENDING I GLASS SHEETS 0R PLATES 2Sheets-Sheet l Ihwentor attorney! May 8, 1956 J. E. JENDRISAK 2,744,359

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING GLASS SHEETS OR PLATES Filed March 27,1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z'mventor attorney;

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING GLASS SHEETS R PLATES Joseph E.Jendrisak, Rossford, Ohio, assignor to Libbey Owens-Ford Glass Company,Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 27, 1951, SerialNo. 217,726

Claims. (Cl. 49-67) The present invention relates to an improved methodUnited States PatentO and apparatus for the bending of glass sheets orplates I or other sheet material to predetermined curvatures.

Generally stated, the improved method of this invention is carried outby the use of novel apparatus which comprises a bending mold having ashaping surface of the desired curvature and preferably of thecontinuous ring type with which is associated means for supporting theglass sheet to be bent in an inclined position above the mold and foreffecting a gradual lowering of the sheet during the bending thereofuntil it is deposited upon the shaping surface of the mold.

An important object of the invention is the provision of bendingapparatus of the above character in which the mold is oriented at anangle to the horizontal, with the glass sheet to be bent being supportedupon the mold at its lower end, in combination with means for supportingthe upper end of the sheet in spaced relation to the mold and operableto lower the sheet during the bending thereof onto the shaping surfaceof the mold.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in bending apparatus ofthe above character, a mold having associated therewith means forsupporting the upper end of the sheet comprising a pivoted support whichserves to maintain the body of the sheet out of contact with the moldduring the initial bending thereof but which operates to automaticallyswing downwardly as the sheet is progressively bent and to bring thesheet to rest upon the shaping surface of the mold at substantially thecompletion of the bending operation whereby sliding contact of the sheetwith the mold will be avoided, thereby minimizing if not eliminatingmold marks and other defects in the softened glass.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in bending apparatus ofthe above character, a mold having associated therewith such a pivotedsupport arranged to carry a flat sheet of glass to be bent above theshaping surface thereof and which is adapted to progressively lower saidsheet asit becomes softened onto said shapingsurface I and to move outof contact with the glass upon completion of the bending operation. I

'.Other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent during the course of the following description, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings. v

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same; I

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof bending apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of one end of thebending apparatus; a

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially online 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the end of the bending apparatusshown in Figs. 2 and 3; and

sheet locators.

2,744,359 Patented May 8, 1956 10 and comprises a supporting rack 11upon which are carried the two glass bending molds 12 and 13.

The rack licornprises an open, substantially rectangular tubularframework having opposite end sections 14 and longitudinally disposedside rails 15 connected to said end sections to provide a rigidstructure. Arranged transversely between and secured to the side rails15' intermediate the opposite ends thereof is a tubular bar 16 providedadjacent its ends with oppositely directed, longitudinally extendingarms 17 in the outer ends of which are rotatably carried rods 18 thatparallel bar 16.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the rack 11 is formed tocarry the two molds 12 and 13 whereby two sheets of glass 19 and 20 maybe simultaneously bent upon said molds. Although not essential, it isusually preferred that the molds be of the same shape and size so thatsimilar and substantial duplication of curvature of the two sheets maybe obtained. This is particularly advantageous in the production ofmatched pairs of bent sheets having the same pattern cut outline andcurvature which will permit their subsequent use as end lights of asectional assembly of two or more parts.

To this end, the molds 12 and 13 are arranged on the rack so that likeparts of each mold will be centrally disposed, while the body of eachmold is oriented at an angle to the horizontal to elevate one end of themold body above the other so that during the bending operation the glasssheets will, upon softening, settle down upon and conform to thecurvature of the molds in the proper manner.

position of the molds.

Since the molds 12 and 13 are adapted to simulta-- neously producesimilar curvatures in the respective glass. sheets, they are ofsubstantially the same construction, Thus, each. mold is of the wellknown outline, peripheral or skeleton. type and comprises an innercontinuous ring 22 and an. outer ring 23 spaced from said inner ring andconnected. The inner ring 22 is formed of end. portions 25 and 26 andside portions 2'7 and 28 connected. The side: portions 27 and 28 arealso bent longitudinally to a concave curve corresponding to thecurvature of the finally If it is desired to produce compound bends,that is to say bending of a sheet along both of its axes, the endportions 25 and 26 may also be bent to a concave and a description ofonly one will be given.

thereto by webs 24.

together to form a ring of the desired'outline.

bent sheet.

curvature. The upper edges of the side and end portions. of the innerring 22 constitute the shaping surface 29 off the mold.

The outer ring 23 is substantially of the same content as the inner ringand comprises end portions 30 and 3t and side portions 32 and 33, saidside portions being here-- in shown as converging toward one anotherinto the arch-- ately shaped end portion 31 which is disposedoppositeend portion 26 of the inner ring 22 and in spaced relationthereto to provide an open area in which is mounted a glass supportingmember 3&4 which will be more fully hereinafter described.

Each mold 12 and 13 is carried in the rack 11 by means: of the'o'uterring'23 which is suitably secured along its: inner end portion 30 as bywelding or the like to the rod 18 as indicated at 35. The inclination,of the mold is: obtained by the manner of support provided at the oppo--site end 31 of the ring. This support comprises a furcated bracketincluding 'spaced legs 36 secured tothe By way of illustration, theadjacent: inner ends of the molds 12 and 13 are arranged on therack 11so as to be materially lower than the outer endsv thereof. To facilitateprocessing of the glass subsequent. to bending such as the tempering ofthe sheets by blasts. of air, the side rails 15 of the rack 11 havetheir end. portions 21 curved to generally correspond to the angularring 23. The upper end of a substantially vertical strut 37 is received'between the legs 36 and loosely connected therewith by means of a pin38. The strut 37 is rigidly secured at its lower end to the end sectionof the rack, and the length of this strut determines the extent ofangularity of the mold.

The glass supporting member 34 comprises a substantially U-shapedelement 39 and a bar 49 which is secured between the free ends of thelegs 41 of said member, said bar being suitably finished upon its upperedge to form a supporting ledge for the adjacent end of the glass sheet.The supporting member 34 is located between the end portions 26 and 31of the inner and outer rings 22 and 23 respectively and is pivotallymounted on a horizontal pin 42. The pin 42 is carried in ears 43 risingfrom a plate 44 secured to the end portion 31 of the outer ring. Theparticular are described by the vertica swinging motion of the member 34upon the pin 42 will permit the bar 40 to be swungupwardly to supportone end of a flat sheet to be bent and to subsequently carry the sheetdownwardly during bending thereof into registry with the shaping surfaceof the mold.

A flat glass sheet to be bent, such as sheet 19, is initially positionedrelative to and supported above the shaping surface 29 of the mold asshown in Fig. 2 by the supporting member 34 at one end and at itsopposite end by means of locators 45 and 56 carried by the lower endportion 25 or" inner ring 22. The lower edge of the glass sheet 19 willthus be positioned and held in place by the lecators 45 and 46 while theupper edge of the sheet will be carried upon the bar 40 and held inplace by a locator 47, carried by the supporting member 34-.

Each of the locators 45, 46 and 47, which, as shown, are substantiallyidentical with those disclosed in my copending application, Serial No.68,533, filed December 31, 1948, now Patent No. 2,551,607 comprises abracket 48 on which is pivotally carried a frame 49 by means of pin 50,said frame being composed of side plates 51 connected at their lowerends by a web 52 as shown in Fig. 5. At their upper ends, the sideplates 51 carry a pin 53 on which is loosely supported a suitablelocating element, such as a ceramic sleeve or coil spring 54. A range ofpivotal movement is afforded the frame 49 by means of a bolt and lockingnut arrangement 55 whereby the locating element 54 may be suitablyadjusted inwardly or outwardly from the adjacent shaping surface.Outward movement of the frame 49 is re stricted by the bolt 55.Preferably, the transverse spacing of the locators 45 and 46 between theside portions 27 and 28 of the ring 22 is such as to balance the weightof In practice, and as shown in Fig. 2, a fiat sheet of glass to bebent, such as the sheet 19, is placed upon the mold 312 with its lowermarginal portion resting upon the lower end portion 25 of said mold andthe adjacent edge thereof against the locators 45 and 46. While manuallysupporting the glass sheet at its upper end, the supporting member 34 isswung upwardly until the bar 40 engages the glass, at which time thelocating element 54 of locator 47 will be placed in contact with theedge of the sheet. The length of the legs 41 of supporting member 34 andthe position of the pin 42 relative to the end portion 26 of the ring 22determine the arcuate path of motion described by said member. This pathof motion, or swinging movement of the member 34, is intended tocompensate for the length of the flat glass sheet as compared to therelatively shorter chord distance between the end portions 25 and 26 ofthe ring 22. Now, due to the strut-like character of the fiat sheet, itsinherent rigidity will react through the locator 47 on the member 34 toprevent downward swinging movement of the latter and likewise willoperate to support the sheet above and in 4 spaced relation to the upperportions of the shaping surface 29. In their angular relationship, themember 34 and the glass sheet 19 thus actually serve to support oneanother and in so doing will, more especially, space said sheet abovethe shaping surface 29.

When the glass has become heated to its bending temperature and due toits effective yet free support, there will be progressive settling fromthe lower marginal portion of the sheet on the end portion 25 of thering 22, gradually upward on the side portions 27 and 2S and toward theopposite upper end portion 26. The settling of the glass as it softenswill now weaken the initial angular relationship effected with thesupporting member 34 and allow it to descend. And since the uppermarginal portion of the glass is carried by said supporting member,despite the downward swinging movement thereof, the glass sheet will notbe permitted to slide on the shaping surface 29 or over the surface ofthe end portion 26, but will be carried thereabove until substantiallythe end of the bending operation when said member 34, in its downwardmovement will deposit the glass on the shaping surface and movedownwardly out of contact therewith.

By providing a glass supporting member 34, as herein set forth, it isnow possible to locate pattern cut sheets of glass abovea mold shapingsurface of similar outline and desired curvature in an easy operationand to bend the same without sliding of the glass upon the shapingsurface of said mold. By suitably determining the range of swinging'motion of the glass supporting member, it is also possible to achieveaccurate registration of the glass on the mold throughout bending of thesame and until the completion of the bending operation in a simple andefficient manner.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, but thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for bending sheets or plates of glass, a mold of ringtype having a shaping surface of the desired outline, said mold beingoriented so that one end is elevated above the other, stationary meansat the lower end of the mold engageable by an edge of a sheet to be bentto locate the lower end of the sheet with respect to said shapingsurface, and means movably mounted at the upper end of the moldengageable by and supporting the upper end of the sheet in spacedrelation above said mold and operable to lower the sheet onto theshaping surface of the mold during the bending of said sheet' 2. Inapparatus for bending sheets or plates of glass, a mold of ring typehaving a shaping surface of the desired outline, said mold beingoriented so that one end is elevated above the other, stationary meansat the lower end of the mold engageable by an edge of a sheet to be bentto locate the lower end of the sheet with respect to said shapingsurface, and means pivotally carried at the upper end of the moldengageable by the upper end of the sheet to support the body portion ofthe said sheet between said ends in spaced relation above said mold andoperable to lower the sheet onto the shaping surface of the mold duringthe bending of the sheet.

3. In apparatus for bending sheets or plates of glass, a mold of ringtype having a shaping surface of the desired outline, said mold beingoriented so that one end is elevated above the other, stationary meansat the lower end of the mold engageable by an edge of a sheet to be bentto locate the lower end of the sheet with respect to said shapingsurface, and means at the upper end of the mold including a barpivotally carried therefrom for supporting the upper end of the sheet inspaced relation above the mold and operable to lower sheet onto theshaping surface of the mold during the bending of the sheet.

4. In apparatus for bending sheets or plates of glass, a mold of thering type, a glass shaping surface having the desired outline formed onthe mold conforming to the curvature of a glass sheet when bent, saidmold being oriented so that one end is elevated above the other,stationary means at the lower end of the mold engageable by an edge ofthe sheet to be bent to locate the lower end of the sheet with respectto the shaping surface of said mold, a glass supporting member pivotallymounted at the upper end of the mold and movable into glass engagingposition above the shaping surface and into glass disengaging positionbeneath said shaping surface, and means carried by the supporting memberto engage the upper end of the fiat sheet when the supporting member isin glass engaging position to support said upper end of the sheet inspaced relation above the mold shaping surface and operable to sustainsaid upper end of the sheet in engagement with the supporting memberwhile the same is moving toward said mold shaping surface into the glassdisengaging position at completion of the bending of the sheet.

5. In apparatus for bending sheets or plates of glass, a mold of thering type, a glass shaping surface having the desired outline formed onthe mold conforming to the curvature of a glass sheet when bent, saidmold being oriented so that one end is elevated above the other,stationary means at the lower end of the mold engageable by an edge ofthe sheet to be bent to locate the lower end of the sheet with respectto the shaping surface of said mold, a glass supporting member pivotallymounted at the upper end of the mold and movable into glass engagingposition above the shaping surface and into glass disengaging positionbeneath said shaping surface, and means carried by the supporting memberto engage the upper end of the flat sheet when the supporting member isin glass engaging position, said first and last named means beinginitially cooperative through the sheet to hold the supporting member inglass engaging position and the upper end of the sheet in spacedrelation above the mold shaping surface and during bending of the sheetinto conformity with said shaping surface to sustain the upper end ofsaid sheet on the supporting member as it lowers said upper end onto theshaping surface and moves to the glass disengaging position therebeneathat completion of the bending operation.

6. A method of bending glass sheets to a curvature corresponding to theshaping surface of a mold, comprising resting one end of a flat sheet ofglass upon the mold while supporting the sheet with its opposite end outof contact with the mold, heating the sheet to bending temperature andgradually lowering the opposite end of the sheet during bending whilemaintaining the same out of contact with the mold until the entirelength of the sheet is deposited upon the shaping surface of the mold.

7. A method of bending glass sheets to a curvature corresponding to theshaping surface of a mold, comprising resting one end of a flat sheet ofglass in a stationary position upon the shaping surface of the moldwhile supporting the sheet with its opposite end above and out ofcontact with the mold, heating the sheet to bending temperature andgradually lowering the opposite end of the sheet during bending of saidsheet while maintaining the said opposite end of the sheet out ofcontact with the shaping surface of the mold until the sheetsubstantially conforms thereto.

8. In a method of bending glass sheets to a curvature corresponding tothe shaping surface of an inclined mold having one of its ends elevatedabove the other, the steps of locating one end of a sheet at the lowerend of the mold shaping surface, initially supporting the other end ofthe sheet above the upper end of the mold in spaced relation to theshaping surface and in an inclined position with respect to the moldshaping surface, heating the sheet to bending temperature, andcontinuing to sup port said other end of the sheet during bendingmovement of the sheet while maintaining said end out of sliding contactwith the shaping surface until the sheet is bent into substantialconformity therewith.

9. In a method of bending glass sheets to a curvature corresponding tothe shaping surface of an inclined mold having one of its ends elevatedabove the other, the steps of locating one end of a sheet at the lowerend of the shaping surface of the mold, initially supporting the otherend of the sheet above the upper end of the mold to maintain the surfaceof the sheet in spaced and inclined relation to said mold shapingsurface, heating the sheet to bending temperature, gradually loweringthe other end of the sheet during its bending movement while maintainingsaid end out of sliding contact with the shaping surface of the molduntil the sheet is bent into substantial conformity therewith, andfinally depositing the said other end of the sheet onto said shapingsurface.

10. In apparatus for bending sheets or plates of glass, a rack and aring type mold supported therefrom in an inclined position, a shapingsurface on the mold conforming to the curvature of a sheet when bent, astationary sheet edge locating member carried by the lower end of themold and adjacent the lower portion of the shaping surface, a sheet edgelocating member pivotally mounted on the upper end of the mold andmovable from a position above and spaced from the upper portion of theshaping surface to a position adjacent thereto, and means for adjustingsaid locating members inwardly and outwardly with respect to the upperand lower portions of the shaping surface.

11. In apparatus for bending sheets or plates of glass, a ring type moldsupported in an inclined position and comprising an outer ring and aninner ring in spaced relation thereto, a shaping surface on said innerring defined by the upper .edge surface thereof, a stationary sheet edgelocating member adjacent the shaping surface at the lower end of theinner ring, sheet supporting and locating means pivotally mounted on theupper end of the outer ring and including a sheet edge supporting memberand a sheet edge locating member carried by said supporting member andadjacent the upper edge surface thereof, said supporting and locatingmeans being movable from a position above and spaced from the upper endof the inner ring to a position adjacent thereto.

12. In apparatus for bending glass sheets or plates into conformity witha mold shaping surface, a sheet edge locator comprising a frame mountedadjacent said mold shaping surface and a ceramic member carried by saidframe to contact said sheet edge when operatively mounted on said moldshaping surface.

13. In apparatus of the character defined in claim 12, said sheet edgelocator including means for pivotally moving said frame about an axissubstantially parallel to said adjacent mold shaping surface.

14. In apparatus for bending glass sheets or plates into conformity witha mold shaping surface, a supporting member for carrying an edge of aglass sheet into registry with said mold shaping surface during thebending of said sheet, a frame mounted adjacent said supporting member,and a ceramic locating member carried by said frame to contact said edgewhen carried on said supporting member.

15. In apparatus of the character defined in claim 14, plus means forpivotally moving said frame about an axis substantially parallel to saidadjacent supporting member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS682,570 Sage Sept. 10, 1901 2,348,278 Boyles et al. May 9, 19442,518,951 Smith Aug. 15, 1950 2,608,799 Babcock Sept. 2, 1952

1. IN APPARATUS FOR BENDING SHEETS OR PLATES OF GLASS, A MOLD OF RINGTYPE HAVING A SHAPING SURFACE OF THE DESIRED OUTLINE, SAID MOLD BEINGORIENTED SO THAT ONE END IS ELEVATED ABOVE THE OTHER, STATIONARY MEANSAT THE LOWER END OF THE MOLD ENGAGEABLE BY AN EDGE OF A SHEET TO BE BENTTO LOCATE THE LOWER END OF THE SHEET WITH RESPECT TO SAID SHAPINGSURFACE, AND MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED AT THE UPPER END OF THE MOLDENGAGEABLE BY AND SUPPORTING THE UPPER END OF THE SHEET IN SPACEDRELATION ABOVE SAID MOLD AND OPERABLE TO LOWER THE SHEET ONTO THESHAPING SURFACE OF THE MOLD DURING THE BENDING OF SAID SHEET.
 12. INAPPARATUS FOR BENDING GLASS SHEETS OR PLATES INTO CONFORMITY WITH A MOLDSHAPING SURFACE, A SHEET EDGE LOCATOR COMPRISING A FRAME MOUNTEDADJACENT SAID MOLD SHAPING SURFACE AND A CERAMIC MEMBER CARRIED BY SAIDFRAME TO CONTACT SAID SHEET EDGE WHEN OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID MOLDSHAPING SURFACE.